My partner and I are visiting Chicago the first week in July. I've never been there, although he's travelled there for business. Any suggestions for restaurants, parks, bars, neighborhoods that might not be in a guide book but are worth checking out?

Great time to visit Chicago! If you enjoy walking take advantage of millenium park, the lakefront, and andersonville.
Andersonville is on the north side (Clark St. 4800 north - 5600 north). There is a wide array of restaurants along with a few art and furniture galleries.

You'll be here in time for Taste of Chicago, the event that all locals deny attending, but we really do. Also, the big fireworks on the evening of July 3rd in Grant Park, which is an absolute zoo. The crowds are ungodly, but the fireworks really are great. Just leave the baby strollers at home. Hollywood beach is the official gay beach, but it is a bit too snooty for my tastes. Then again, I am not a twenty-something twink with washboard abs, so that might be the reason why I think it's snooty. The King Tut exhibit is open, which is waaaay cool, but the wait does suck. It's at the Field Museum on Lake Shore Drive, south of Roosevelt Road. Of course, there are a boat-load of museums to visit in Chicago, but I would only recommend that as a "rain-day" activity. It's summer...get outside and enjoy the lake! Also, we have the World Series Champs on the south side, The Chicago White Sox, and the world's largest gay bar on the north side, Wrigley Field, home of the forever-losing Chicago Cubs. Good Lord, I could go on and on. If you need more details, PM me and I would be glad to help.